Posted September 4
The electrification of transport is essential, but it is not a panacea. An effective sustainable mobility policy also involves reducing the number of cars on our roads and, at the same time, increasing the use of public transit.
So couldn’t we increase the popularity of the metro or buses by allowing their users to use them free of charge at all times? Wouldn’t the sums earmarked for tax reductions – proposed by the majority of parties since the beginning of the campaign – be better invested?
The question is valid and the answer is… it’s a bad idea.
“If the cost of transport were the only determinant of the choice of mode of transport, we would not see so many cars [et de grosses voitures] on our roads,” explains Catherine Morency, professor at Polytechnique Montréal, where she notably holds the Mobility Chair.
Motorists are the least sensitive to the price of a trip, adds Jean-Philippe Meloche, professor at the University of Montreal specializing in urban economics and local public finance.
Therefore, if public transport were free, it would be more people who walk or cycle who would benefit from it.
The effect of free transport is this: it brings more people to public transport, but not necessarily more sensible travel.
Jean-Philippe Meloche, professor at the University of Montreal
Mr. Meloche gives the example of pedestrians who generally walk short distances, but who would rather take the bus because it would cost them nothing.
Such a measure would not significantly reduce the number of vehicles in circulation, but it would increase metro and bus ridership and also, in all likelihood, user dissatisfaction.
Unless we invest considerably to improve public transit.
It is moreover rather on this that we should bet, believes Catherine Morency. For example, we need “more services, greater priority (on the networks – reserved lanes, priority traffic lights), greater range of services, greater frequency, fewer connections, better access conditions (pedestrian routes to get to the stop), waiting (bus shelters and services) and connections”, she summarizes.
Moreover, if you are wondering how much the state should pay to ensure free public transit in Quebec, know that it would cost less than the tax cuts recently promised by the CAQ.
Professor Meloche points out that the government already pays, on average, two-thirds of the province-wide public transit bill, which amounts to just over $3 billion each year.
The amount paid by users, which represents approximately one-third, therefore amounts to something like $1 billion. This would be what Quebec should invest in if it wanted all travel, depending on the frequency of services currently offered, to be free from now on.
Of course, it is still far from negligible. But above all, such a drain could harm the maintenance of existing infrastructure, which is already deficient, and the improvement of the network.
Experience and studies show that every dollar spent on investments in infrastructure and service improvement is more effective than a dollar spent on reducing fares.
Pierre Barrieau, transport planning expert and lecturer at the University of Montreal
“Our network in Quebec is so underfunded,” adds Mr. Barrieau.
That is why the idea of increasing our investment in public transit would be excellent. There is certainly something to fuel the electoral debate over the coming weeks.